Crystar Optical Works

I haven't been able to find any details on this company, which also made a couple of 35mm cameras around the same time. Sugiyama identifies four distinct models under the Crystar name, which McKeown seems to have just copied, although he managed to scramble one name (he has a Crystar AII, where Sugiyama has a IIA with identical features!). Both also have the Crystar Flex IIA as a separate model. Neither mentions the Sunscope, but it isn't all that rare - a few sell on the Web each year. The Gendis-1 is probably the rarest - I've found no references to it in books or websites, and i know of only one other, which was offered to me by a reader of this site.

All the cameras are essentially the same, with geared lenses and basic shutters. They all have a tendency for the geared focus to be stiff or jam - not a very high quality product, although an interesting period piece.

Crystar 25

Apparently the first of the Crystar TLR models (there was a Crystar 15 120 folder and Crystar 35 for 35mm film). C.1954
Taking lens is C-Master 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Crystar 1/25 to 1/100

Crystar Flex

Apparently a slightly later evolution of the 25 - 1954/5?. The main advance is the faster and slightly better shutter.
Taking lens is C-Master 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Crystar 1/10 to 1/200

Crystar Sunscope

Barely any difference from the Crystar 25, although the shutter is probably from the 'Flex. Perhaps made for a US distributor?
Taking lens is C-Master 80mm f3.5
Shutter is S.S.P. 1/10 to 1/200

Crystar Gendis-1

This is practically identical to the Sunscope, although the shutter is marginally better. Perhaps another distribution variant.
Taking lens is C-Master 80mm f3.5
Shutter is "Gendis" 1/10 to 1/300